RIVERSIDE, California
Law enforcement authorities Wednesday arrested 12 defendants charged in a federal grand jury indictment alleging they conspired to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine
The methamphetamine made its way from suppliers in Mexico into and throughout the Inland Empire in California.
The 19-count indictment charges a total of 19 defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The defendants are facing up to life in prison if convicted of the charges, officials stated. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
During this morning’s takedown, 12 of the federal defendants were arrested, officials stated.
Three other defendants were already in federal or state custody on unrelated charges, and federal prosecutors will seek to have them brought into federal court.
Four defendants are fugitives.
“It’s important for me that our residents are able to enjoy our community without the fear of violence, but also without the fear that they become prey to addiction or even death due to some of these harmful drugs that are being sold in our neighborhoods,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said at a news conference, according to the Press-Enterprise newspaper.
This investigation focused on the criminal activities of the Riverside-based Casa Blanca Rifa criminal street gang, officials announced.
The indictment returned on May 5 and unsealed Wednesday indicates that from April to August 2020, lead defendants Timoteo Gomez, 48, of Riverside, and Javier Rodriguez, a.k.a. “Harvey,” 54, of Riverside, purchased methamphetamine from their suppliers in Mexico as well as Los Angeles and Riverside counties.
Other alleged members of the conspiracy would further distribute methamphetamine in the Inland Empire.
The indictment details the conspirators’ efforts in April 2020 to smuggle 46.6 pounds (21.2 kilograms) of methamphetamine from Mexico across the U.S port of entry at Calexico and into Riverside County.
In May 2020, another co-conspirator allegedly attempted to drive a load of 90.4 pounds (41 kilograms) of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico through the San Ysidro port of entry.
In total, law enforcement seized more than 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of methamphetamine and $31,035 in cash during this investigation.
The indictment also charges some of the defendants with conspiracy to import methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and attempted international money laundering.
Two additional defendants were charged in separate indictments in March in connection with this case, bringing the number of defendants charged so far to 21.
Both were arrested in April on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and are currently in federal custody.
One has pleaded guilty and the other is awaiting trial.
DOJ NOTED:
The FBI’s Inland Empire Safe Streets Task Force investigated this matter.
The Task Force is a joint federal and state gang task force that includes the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS Criminal Investigation; the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; and the Riverside Police Department.
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force received assistance during the investigation from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service.